Package

ABSTRACT

A PACKAGE FORMED FROM A FLAT LENGTH OF MATERIAL, THE EDGES OF WHICH LENGTH ARE CONNECTED TOGETHER ALONG A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SEAL. THE PACKAGE INCLUDES OPPOSING GUSSETS, ONE OF WHICH CONTAINS THE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SEAL. THE PACKAGE IS OPENED BY SEPARATING THE SIDES OF THE GUSSET AND PULLING THE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SEAL, WHEREBY THE PACKAGE OPENS AND THE GUSSET FORMS A POUR SPOUT. THE BOTTOM OF THE PACKAGE MAY BE FLAT.

PACKAGE 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 21, 1970 FIG! INVENTURRWILLIAM C, LEASURE JOHN D. ANDREWS ATTORNFYS Dec. 11, 1973 w. c. LEASUREETAL Re. 27,838

PACKAGE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Dec. 21, 1970 FIG. 5

INVENTORS WILLIAM C. LEASURE JOHN D-ANDREWS BY iwj j k ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 27,838 PACKAGE William C. Leasure and John D. Andrews,Houston, Tex., assignors to Mira-Pals, Inc., Houston, Tex.

Original No. 3,458,111, dated July 29, 1969, Ser. No.

692,568, Dec. 21, 1967. Application for reissue July 21, 1970, Ser. No.56,827

Int. Cl. 365d 33/38 US. Cl. 229-17 R 18 Claims Matter enclosed in heavybrackets [II appears in the original patent but forms no part of thisreissue specification; matter printed in italics indicates the additionsmade by reissue.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A package formed from a flat length ofmaterial, the edges of which length are connected together along alongitudinally extending seal. The package includes opposing gusscts,one of which contains the longitudinally extending seal. The package isopened by separating the sides of the gusset and pulling thelongitudinally extending seal, whereby the package opens and the gussetforms a pour spout. The bottom of the package may be flat.

BackgroundField of the invention This invention relates to packages. Inparticular it relates to improvements in packages, especially packagesof the type formed from a continuous length of generally flat material.

Background-Description of the prior art It is known to form packagesfrom a continuous length of material by connecting together opposingedges of the said length of material along a longitudinally extendingseal and subsequently forming transverse seals to close the top andbottom of the package. In such packages as known heretofore, generallythe longitudinal seal has been located on either the front or the hackof the package; and the opening of the package has been achieved bytearing through one of the transverse seals.

Summary of the invention The purpose of this invention is to provide anew and improved package of the type described wherein the longitudinalseal connecting the opposing edges of the length of fiat material isarranged on the side of the package and extends outwardly and whereinthis seal is formed within a gusset construction to facilitate theopening of the package and the forming of a pour spout.

According to the present invention, a length of tubular material isformed in a known manner from a length of fiat material with theopposing edges of the flat material connected together to form alongitudinally extending seal of finite width and directed outwardlyfrom the surface of the package. Suitable means form a gusset on eachside of the package with the longitudinal seal located in one of thesegussets. With the gussets so formed, transverse seals are formed acrossthe top and bottom of the package. If desired, the bottom of the packagemay be folded upwardly to form a flat bottom. In practice this flatbottom will normally be formed before product is introduced into thepackage.

To open the package, one merely reaches into the gusset containing thelongitudinal seal, separates the upper ends thereof and pulls thelongitudinal seal outwardly. Initially, this will cause the portion ofthe package adjacent the gusset to tear, thereby opening the package,and subsequent pulling of this seal will cause the gusset to foldoutwardly thereby forming a pour spout. If desired, suitable means maybe provided to cause the packaging material to tear along apredetermined path.

Reissued Dec. 11, 1973 Thus, it is an object of this invention toprovide a new and improved package.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a package havingmeans for conveniently opening the package at one upper corner thereofand forming a pour spout.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a package of thetype formed from a continuous length of flat material, the opposingedges of which are joined together along a longitudinally extending sealwhich cooperates with a gusset construction to facilitate the opening ofthe package and the forming of a pour spout.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved gussetted,flat-bottom package.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a package having alongitudinally extending seal located at one side thereof, leaving thefront and back of the package free for the advertising message.

Other objects and the attendant advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description to follow together withthe accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings There follows a detailed descriptionof a preferred embodiment of the invention together with accompanyingdrawings. However, it should be understood that the invention is capableof numerous modifications and variations apparent to those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a completed, unopened packageconstructed in accordance with the features of the present invention.

FIGURES 2 and 3 are perspective views illustrating steps in theformation of the package of FIGURE 1.

FIGURES 4 and 5 are perspective views illustrating two steps in theopening of the package of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view showing the same position asFIGURE 5 but showing the package tilted ready for pouring product.

FIGURE 7 is an elevational view showing the package in the fully openedcondition.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment.

Like numerals are employed to indicate like parts throughout the severaldrawings.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a package 10, constructed in accordance with thefeatures of the present invention from a length of generally fiatmaterial, the opposing edges of the length having been joined togetherface to face at outwardly directed seal 11. The two sides of the packagehave been folded inwardly to form gussets 12, one on each side thereof.The top and bottom of the package are closed by upper and lowertransverse seals 13 and 14, respectively. This particular package has afiat bottom 15. A notch 16, the purpose of which will be explained ingreater detail below, is formed in the upper seal 13.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the package without a flat bottom which,nonetheless, includes certain features of the present invention. Thispackage may be used in the form shown, or, if desired, the lower seal 14of FIGURE 2 may be folded upwardly as shown in FIGURE 3 to form the flatbottom 15 of FIGURE 1.

It will be noted that in the finished package, either with or withoutthe flat bottom the longitudinal seal is located on the side of thepackage. Consequently, both the front and the back of the package arefree for printed advertising material.

FIGURES 4-7 illustrate the simple and convenient procedure for openingthe package and forming a pour spout. First, as shown in FIGURE 4, theupper ends of the gusset 12 containing the seal 11 are folded apartforming ear portions 20 and 21 and the upper end 22 of the seal 11 whichforms a tab portion. The remaining portion of the seat 13 is referred tohereinafter as the main portion 23. Either before or after the earportions 20 and 21 are separated, the main portion 23 is torn at notch16.

The tab portion 22 is then grasped and pulled outwardly causing theportions of the package adjacent the sides of ear portions 20 and 21facing the main portion 23 to tear along tear lines 24 (FIGURE therebyforming package opening 25.

In this condition, the entire inner surface of the gusset 12 includingthe sides of ear portions 20 and 21 facing the main portion 23, forms apour spout 26.

An advantage of the present invention is the convenient arrangement forclosing and storing the once-opened package. The tab 22 is pushedinwardly and the ear portions 20 and 21 are brought together to thepositions they occupied before the package was opened. The entire upperend of the package can then be folded about a transverse line slightlybelow the tear line 24. This will form a satisfactory closed, if notcompletely airtight, seal.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pack age is semi-rigid.That is, it should not be completely limp. For this purpose, the packagemay be formed of a suitable metallic foil such as aluminum foil.Alternatively, the package may be formed of a plastic material havingstrengthening ribs. Another desirable feature of the present inventionwould include a means for causing the tear line 24 to follow apredetermined path. This could be accomplished by mechanically forming aguide path from the bottom of notch 16 across to the edge of thepackage. For example, the same sealing die which forms transverse seal13 could include a mechanical bar for indenting the package at thedesired location. Also, the package could be formed from a materialincluding an oriented film such as oriented polyethylene, whichorientation would cause the product to tear along the predeterminedpath.

In one embodiment of the invention, the packaging material itself is ofa laminated construction including the following four layers, frominside to out; polyethylene, metallic foil, polyethylene, andcellophane. The inside polyethylene layer would form a permanent seal toclose the package when subjected to heat and pressure. The aluminum foilwould provide the necessary rigidity while the polyethylene layer on theouter surface of the aluminum foil serves as a laminate between the foiland outer cellophane layer. Finally, the outer cellophane surfaceprovides a suitable surface for printing and forms a peel seal, that is,a seal which is not permanent and could be separated, at those portionswhere the outer surface of the package engages another outer surface ofthe package such as at the gussets 12.

Another feature includes the construction of the longitudinallyextending rib 11. This is formed by a sealing die having a toothconfiguration such as to give horizontal ribs. It has been found thatsuch an arrangement simplifies the folding of the longitudinal seal 11in the formation of the flat bottom 15.

Although the invention has been described above in considerable detail,it should be apparent that the invention is capable of numerousmodifications and variations apparent to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedin the claims.

We claim:

1. A generally tubular package of the type formed from a length ofgenerally flat material having a longitudinal tube axis extending from afirst end to a second end of the package, the edges of the said lengthbeing connected together along a longitudinal seal of finite width withthe said edges facing the outside of the package, an

elongated transverse seal extending across the package and closing thefirst end thereof, said traverse seal comprising a central portion andopposite outer portions at least one of said outer portions including agussetted infolded section, and said longitudinal seal intersecting thetransverse seal in the gussetted infolded section, the arrangement beingsuch that when the central portion of the seal is broken near thegussetted section, and the longitudinal seal is pulled away from thecentral portion, the package tears below the outer portion of thetransverse seal to open the package, and the infolded gussetted sectionforms a spout for pouring product from the package.

2. The package of claim 1 wherein the said outer portion of thetransverse seal comprises a pair of ear portions extending outwardlyfrom said central portion, one on each side of the longitudinal seal,said central portion being located on the side of the ear portionsopposite from the longitudinal seal, said ear portions each having afirst side facing the longitudinal seal and a second side facing awayfrom the longitudinal seal, the arrangement being such that when thelongitudinal seal is pulled away from the central portion, the packagetears below the second side of each ear and the said second sides formthe inside of the spout.

3. The package of claim 2 including means for causing the part of thepackage below the second side to tear along a predetermined path whenthe tab is pulled.

4. The package of claim 3 wherein the last said means comprises amechanically altered portion of the package along said predeterminedpath.

5. The package of claim 3 wherein said package includes at least oneoriented layer of film material, the orientation being such as to causethe package to tear along said predetermined path.

6. The package of claim 3 including a notch in the central portion ofthe transverse seal to facilitate tearing of the central portion to themeans for causing the package to tear along said predetermined path.

7. The package of claim 1 wherein said second end includes a secondtransverse seal across said second end, said second transverse seal alsoincluding a central portion and opposite outer portions, at least one ofsaid outer portions including a second gussetted infolded section andsaid longitudinal seal also intersecting said second transverse seal insaid second infolded gussetted section.

8. The package of claim 7 wherein the other outer portion of eachtransverse seal also includes an infolded gussetted section, and whereinthe second transverse seal is folded towards the first seal and attachedto the package to form a generally fiat second end of the package.

9. The package of claim 7 wherein said longitudinal seal includes aplurality of ribs extending perpendicular to the outer edge of saidlongitudinal seal.

10. The package of claim 1 wherein said tubular package is of laminatedconstruction and includes a heat sealable inner layer for forming apermanent bond with itself, at least one intermediate layer forrendering the package semi-rigid, and an outer layer for forming apeelable seal where the outer layer engages itself.

11. The package of claim 10 wherein the outer portion of the transverseseal comprises a pair of ear portions extending outwardly from saidcentral portion, one on each side of the longitudinal seal, said centralportion being located on the side of the ear portions opposite from saidlongitudinal seal, each ear portion having a first side facing thelongitudinal seal and a second side facing away from the longitudinalseal, said inner layer forming a permanent bond between the first andsecond sides of each ear portion and permanently closing the centralportion of the transverse seal, and the said outer layer being adaptedto hold the two first sides of the ear portions together until they arepeeled apart to expose that part of the longitudinal seal whichintersects the transverse seal, the arrangement being such that when thelongitudinal seal is pulled away from the central portion the packagetears below the second side of each ear and second sides form the insideof the pour spout.

12. The package of claim 1 wherein the second end of the package isgenerally flat and it extends in a plane substantially perpendicular tothe tube axis.

13. The package of claim 8 wherein the first said outer portion of thefirst said transverse seal comprises a pair of ear portions extendingoutwardly from said outer portions, one to each side of the longitudinalseal, said central portion being located on the side of the ear portionsopposite from the longitudinal seal, said ear portions each having afirst side facing the longitudinal seal and a second side facing thecentral portion, the arrangement being such that longitudinal seal ispulled away from the central portion the package tears below the secondside of each ear and the said second sides form the inside of the spout.

14. The package of claim 13 including means for causing the part of thepackage adjacent the second sides to tear along the predetermined pathwhen the longitudinal seal is pulled outwardly.

15. A package having a generally tubular end closed by a seal formedthereacross such that opposing portions of the tubular end sealinglyengage each other to close the said end; said seal including (a) acentral portion extending across the package, (b) a pair of ear portionsextending outwardly from said central portion, one ear portion on eachside of a tab portion, each ear portion having a first side facing thetab and a second side facing away from the tab, said ears beingconstructed to fold against each other, and (c) the said tab portionextending outwardly away from the central portion from a point on thefirst sides of the ear portions said tab being located between the earportions when they are folded against each other, such that when the tabportion is pulled away from said central portion, the package tearsbelow the second side of the ear portions to open the package, and thesecond sides of the ear portions form a spout for pouring a product outof the package.

16. The package of claim 15 wherein the package is of the type formedfrom a length of fiat material formed into a tube by connecting oppositeedges of the length along the longitudinally extending seal, and whereina part of said longitudinal seal constitutes the said tab portion.

17. A package having a lower part which is of generally rectangularcross-section including opposing first sides and opposing second sides,said package being formed from a length of flexible fiat material, theedges of which material have been joined along a longitudinal seal whichextends along one of said second sides from the upper end to the lowerend, upper and lower transverse seals closing the upper and lower endsof the package, respectively, in-folded gusseted sections on the secondsides of the packages adjacent the upper and lower transverse [seal]seals, said longitudinal seal intersecting each said transverse seal,and wherein the lower transverse seal which is initially formed withsaid in-folded gusseted sections extends across the package a distanceno greater than the width of said first sides, and wherein when thelower end portion of the package including the lower transverse seal isfolded upwardly toward the upper transverse seal, it closes the saidgussets adjacent the lower transverse seal [to form] and forms agenerally fiat bottom on the package.

18. The invention of claim 17 wherein said longitudinally extending sealincludes a plurality of ribs extending perpendicular to the outer edgeof the said longitudinally extending seal.

References Cited The following references, cited by the Examiner, are ofrecord in the patented file of this patent or the original patent.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,387,701 6/1968 Schneider 229-58 3,051,368 8/l962Schneider et a1. 229-17 3,314,591 4/1967 Cheeley 229-53 3,331,692 7/1967White 99-174 3,339,820 9/ 1967 Krzyzanowski.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,470,595 1/1967 France 229l7 R 342,074 12/1959Switzerland 229-58 DONALD F. NORTON, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.22951 D, 55, 58

